Sad clown kills mime over trapeze artist at BCT

A clown killing a mime is quite possibly the saddest thing in the world. It happened in the first "circus opera" adaptation of "Acic and Galatea" at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater.\nThe scene began with greetings from a mime, clown, bear, ringmaster and trapeze artist. It was, by all accounts, G.F. Handel's opera "Acis and Galatea" disguised as a traveling, big-top circus. Though not set up in an early 1900s tent, it might as well have been.\n"It's the hardest role I've ever played," said Aaron Sheehan, the actor playing Acis, who, in this rendition, was a mime.\nFor more than a half-hour before the show, Galatea (the trapeze artist) frolicked throughout the theater in a sort of ballet style while mingling with the audience, as Acis invited audience members through the entrance. \nThe bear, Coridon, and the sad clown, Polyphemus, meandered about, while the ringmaster, Damon, who was also in full character, brought everyone into the realm of the circus.\nThis is not how it was performed in 1718, when the opera was written, or at any time since.\nTim Nelson, the stage director, has taken a modern approach. A rather bland pastoral opera, it is known as one of Handel's finest pieces musically, though it rarely is played. Nelson decided to give credit where credit is due and create an opera for all to enjoy, including children.\n"I thought it was really cool to see two 3-year-old kids dancing in the aisle," Bloomington resident Hugh Boger said.\nAcis prefaced the show with the message to turn off cell phones and be courteous. In the first five minutes they were dancing through the aisles and singing in seats next to audience members. \n"I'm very impressed with their dedication to the idea," IU theater student Dan Bubeck said about the character-audience involvement.\nGalatea's character as a trapeze artist fascinated audience members, mainly because she could sing while suspended midair. With a beautiful and graceful performance, Galatea showed off her extensive dancing background.\n"I'm impressed by (Galatea) singing upside down," graduate student Bridget McFarland said.\nThe story of the opera is quite simple and traditional. Acis and Galatea fall in love, but Polyphemus is jealous of their love. Eventually, Acis and Polyphemus battle, resulting in the death of Galatea's love. Nelson's version has the same story but with a different theme and characters -- and ultimately ends with the sad clown killing the mime.